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Title: Effects of simulated rare earth recycling wastewaters on biological nitrification

Abstract

Current efforts to increase domestic availability of rare-earth element (REE) supplies by recycling and expanded ore processing efforts will result in increased generation of associated wastewaters. In some cases disposal to a sewage treatment plant may be favored but plant performance must be maintained. To assess the potential effects of such wastewaters on biological wastewater treatment, model nitrifying organisms Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrobacter winogradskyi were exposed to simulated wastewaters containing varying levels of yttrium or europium (10, 50 and 100 ppm), and the REE extractant tributyl phosphate (TBP, at 0.1 g/L). Y and Eu additions above 10 ppm inhibited N. europaea activity, even when initially virtually all of the REE was insoluble. The provision of TBP together with Eu increased inhibition of nitrite production by the N. europaea, although TBP alone did not substantially alter nitrifying activity N. winogradskyi was more sensitive to the stimulated wastewaters, with even 10 ppm Eu or Y inducing significant inhibition, and a complete shutdown of nitrifying activity occurred in the presence of the TBP. To analyze the availability of REEs in aqueous solutions, REE solubility has been calculated using the previously developed MSE (Mixed-Solvent Electrolyte) thermodynamic model. The model calculations reveal a strong pHmore » dependence of solubility, which is typically controlled by the precipitation of REE hydroxides but may also be influenced by the formation of a phosphate phase.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
  2. OLI Systems Inc., Cedar Knolls, NJ (United States)
  3. The State Univ. of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ (United States)
  4. Univ. of California Davis, Davis, CA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1200854
Report Number(s):
INL/JOU-15-34114
Journal ID: ISSN 0013-936X
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC07-05ID14517
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Environmental Science and Technology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 49; Journal Issue: 16; Journal ID: ISSN 0013-936X
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION

Citation Formats

Fujita, Yoshiko, Barnes, Joni, Eslamimanesh, Ali, Lencka, Malgorzata M., Anderko, Andrzej, Riman, Richard E., and Navrotsky, Alexandra. Effects of simulated rare earth recycling wastewaters on biological nitrification. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b01753.
Fujita, Yoshiko, Barnes, Joni, Eslamimanesh, Ali, Lencka, Malgorzata M., Anderko, Andrzej, Riman, Richard E., & Navrotsky, Alexandra. Effects of simulated rare earth recycling wastewaters on biological nitrification. United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b01753
Fujita, Yoshiko, Barnes, Joni, Eslamimanesh, Ali, Lencka, Malgorzata M., Anderko, Andrzej, Riman, Richard E., and Navrotsky, Alexandra. 2015. "Effects of simulated rare earth recycling wastewaters on biological nitrification". United States. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b01753. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1200854.
@article{osti_1200854,
title = {Effects of simulated rare earth recycling wastewaters on biological nitrification},
author = {Fujita, Yoshiko and Barnes, Joni and Eslamimanesh, Ali and Lencka, Malgorzata M. and Anderko, Andrzej and Riman, Richard E. and Navrotsky, Alexandra},
abstractNote = {Current efforts to increase domestic availability of rare-earth element (REE) supplies by recycling and expanded ore processing efforts will result in increased generation of associated wastewaters. In some cases disposal to a sewage treatment plant may be favored but plant performance must be maintained. To assess the potential effects of such wastewaters on biological wastewater treatment, model nitrifying organisms Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrobacter winogradskyi were exposed to simulated wastewaters containing varying levels of yttrium or europium (10, 50 and 100 ppm), and the REE extractant tributyl phosphate (TBP, at 0.1 g/L). Y and Eu additions above 10 ppm inhibited N. europaea activity, even when initially virtually all of the REE was insoluble. The provision of TBP together with Eu increased inhibition of nitrite production by the N. europaea, although TBP alone did not substantially alter nitrifying activity N. winogradskyi was more sensitive to the stimulated wastewaters, with even 10 ppm Eu or Y inducing significant inhibition, and a complete shutdown of nitrifying activity occurred in the presence of the TBP. To analyze the availability of REEs in aqueous solutions, REE solubility has been calculated using the previously developed MSE (Mixed-Solvent Electrolyte) thermodynamic model. The model calculations reveal a strong pH dependence of solubility, which is typically controlled by the precipitation of REE hydroxides but may also be influenced by the formation of a phosphate phase.},
doi = {10.1021/acs.est.5b01753},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1200854}, journal = {Environmental Science and Technology},
issn = {0013-936X},
number = 16,
volume = 49,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jul 16 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Thu Jul 16 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Effective removal of calcium and magnesium sulfates from wastewater in the rare earth industry
journal, January 2019